Type composing apparatus



July 2, 1957 R. A. HIGONNET ETAL 2,797,787

TYPE COMPOSING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1954 INVENTORSRENE A. HIGONNET OYROUD CALL amt/500 wom smmk LOUIS ATTORNEYS TYPECOMPOSING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1954 INVENTORS. RENEA. HGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD ATTORNEY$ Juf 2, 195? R. A. HlGONNET ET AL2,797,787

TYPE COMPOSING APPARATUS 8 sheets s heet Filed Jan. 12, 1954 INVENTORS.

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ATTORNEYS y T957 R. A. HIGONNET ETAL 2,797,787

TYPE COMPOSING APPARATUS Fig. 7

. JNVENTORS. RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MO ROUD ATTORNEYS y 1957 R. A.HIGONNET ETAL 2,797,787

TYPE COMPOSING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan.. 12, 1954 1INVENTORS- RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD ATTORNEYS R. A. HIGONNETETAL 2,797,787

TYPE COMPOSING APPARATUS B Sheets-Sheet s m |..|v.:!.i-. f 1!. C: g .C.III .II w mm g a e July 2, T937 Filed Jan. 12, 1954 21 Elm.

TYPE coMPosiNG APPARATUS Ren A. Higonnet, Cambridge, and Louis M.Moyroud,

West Medford, Mass, assignorsto Graphic Arts Research Foundation, Inc.,Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1954,Serial No. 403,584

Claims priority, application France January 16, 1948 7 Claims. (CL197-19) The present invention relates to type composing apparatus,andmore particularly 'to apparatus utilized in conjunction with thestoring of information relative to the selected characters to becomposed, and for correcting said information prior to the compositionof the characters in final form.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 770,320, 'filed August 23, 1947, and contains divisionalsubject matter disclosedin our copending application Serial'No. 70,472,filed January 12, 1949, now Patent No. 2,682,814.

The invention concerns a register or memory device including storagedevices which are adapted to assume a number of stable conditions torepresent selective. keyboard operations, selector devices under thecontrol of the keyboard for writing, or altering the condition of thestorage devices according to the keyboard operations, and readingdevices adapted to detect the information so stored at somesubsequent'period, and to make it available to other units of thecomposing apparatus for transcription, or production of justified linesof characters.

An important object of the invention is to provide with such a registerprovision for rapid and convenienterasure of stored informationresulting from 'erroneouskeyboard operations, such as misspelling or thelike. Since the requirements or justification necessitate-adelayfibetween the writing of any particular information in the registerand the reading and transcription thereof, it follows that theinformation stored in the register can be most conveniently correctedwithin the delay period, that is, before the reading devices transmitthe information to the transcribing apparatus. Furthermore, sincecorrection usually entails substitution of characters of difierentwidths from those which were incorrectly stored, it also follows thatappropriate correction provisions must be made for this difference priorto the computation of the justification increments for the line in whichthe correction appears.

Particularly in photographic typecomposing apparatus, it is desirablefor the compositor to operate a non-justifying typewriter havingadaptations of the keyboard suitable for actuation of both the registerand the justification apparatus. Thus, the compositor is able to see thecharacters selected in complete lines, and he is then better-able todetermine whether correction is necessary.

Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to utilize the featureof a register having linkage with the nonjustifying typewriter. Thislinkage may take the form of a mechanical connection between theplatenofthe nonjustifying typewriter and the selector devices, whereby theselector devices are presented to successive groups of storage devicesunder the control of the same escapement mechanism which moves theplaten of the non-justifying typewriter. This means that, while theselector devices are normally driven in one direction step-by-step asthe line is composed, they may readily be returned to'any desiredposition in orderto permit the performance of the correctionfunctionsheretofore mentioned. Such a nited States Patent register isdescribed in our above-mentioned copending application Serial No.770,320 and also our copending application Serial No. 187,476, filedSeptember 29, 1950, now Patent No. 2,690,249, which is acontinuation-inpart thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, a feature of this invention isthe provision of correction means based upon the utilization of a codein the storage of characters in the register. Thus, assuming for examplethat there are seven binary storage pins or similar devices for eachcharacter in the register, these devices will be divided int-o twogroups, a width selector group of four devices which represents thewidth of the character in binary notation, and a character selectorgroup of three devices, which distinguishes between characters of likewidth in addition to signaling other commands such as changes in size,set width, style, or case of the characters.

The correction procedure is similar to that described in our previouslymentioned applications Serial Nos. 770,320 and 187,476, in that theoperator returns the platen carriage of the non-justifying typewriter tothe position wherein the erroneous character is typed, and depresses acorrection key which ultimately retracts all the register pinscorresponding to that position only, so as to permit the correct keytobe depressed and stored in that position.

According to this invention, the depression of the correction keyinitiates a correction cycle as described in our copending applicationSerial No. 70,472. During this cycle, the width selector pinsrepresenting the erroneous character width are sensed and this value issubtracted from the line length adder, after which all of the pins areretracted as previously explained.

Other features of the invention will be more readily understood from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a block diagram of aphotographic composing machine incorporating the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are circuit diagrams of the accumulator and of thekeyboard and correction controls;

Fig. -4 is a front elevation of the register, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a partial pictorial view of the register showing the rockingelements to .be operated for successive lines of type;

Figs. 6a and 6b are'views showing additional details of the rockingmechanism;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional elevations of the register; and

'Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the register.

Block diagram The invention will be described'in connection with theblock diagram of Fig. l. The apparatus indicated in the block 10 at thelower left hand corner of Fig. 1, comprises the typewriter having akeyboard, the permutation bars actuated by the typewriter keys and theregister for storing the coded information corresponding to theselection of a givenzcharacter. As explained in our copendingapplication Serial No. 770,320, the system preferably includes aregister having two sets of pins whereby the coded informationalreadystored on one .set of pins may be decoded and transmitted to theflash unit and variable escapement while a subsequent. line is beingtyped on the typewriter. .lncommonwith usual, printing techniquesvarious characters of the font are allocated arbitrary width-values. Forexample, in a repesentative font, the width values of i and l are 5units; f and j, 6; a, g and numerals, 9;.b, h, ,n and s, 10; T, F and,L,l 2; M, H andW, 15. An arbitrary minimum interword value is alsoassigned which, by way of example, will be taken as 4 units.

On each actuation of any character of the typewriter, the register isoperated to store the'required information- Also on each actuation of acharacter the width value thereof is transmitted to the line counter 12.For this. purpose four leads 14 connect the block with the: block 12 inFig. 1. It will be noted from the above that twelve different widthvalues, ranging from the interword value (4 units) to W (15 units) aregenerally sufiicient to cover all possible fonts. For this it sufficestohave four leads 14 (because 2 :16), although if a; greater number ofwidth values are required, a larger: number of leads may be used.

Each actuation of the space bar, in addition to adding: 4 units to theline counter, adds one into the interword counter CI, whereby the linecounter accumulates the: number of width units from the beginning of theline and the interword counter accumulates the number of interwords.-For this latter purpose, a connection 18 runs from a switch operated bythe space bar of the typewriter to the interword counter CI.

In addition to the leads 14 connecting the permutation bars with theline counter, there is a lead 20 operated by a universal switch forpurposes to be described later.

At the completion of the typing of a line, the line is read by theoperator and if it appears correct the operator presses a manual startkey 22, which initiates operation of the justifying mechanism andthereafter automatically starts the printing cycle. The justifyingoperation is as described in our said application Serial No. 70,472 andis not here explained in detail. In brief? summary, it is as follows.

Let I represent the desired length of the line in the arbitrary unitsand let L be the total width of all of the characters and minimuminterwords, as stored on the register. The line is too short by thedeficit Dso that ]-L=D. The object of justification is to distributeamong the interwords the deficit D so that the length of the line willbe increased from L to exactly I.

Let N be the number of interwords; then the relation between the deficitD and the number N may be expressed as follows:

D=NQ +R 1 where Q is the integral value of the quotient of N into D, andR is the remainder. The justifier adds Q units to the first N -Rinterwords, and Q+1 units to the last R interwords. The number of lengthunits thus added is The operation may bedescribed in conjunction with anumerical example. Let us suppose that D equals 41 (that is, the line is41 units too short) and that the number of interwords N equals 12.

Into the line counter 12 we now introduce the number W successively.This is done through the five leads 23 connecting the interword counter16 with the line counter 12. In the example chosen the deficit D istherefore successively reduced from 41 to 29, to 17, and to 5. At thefourth addition the capacity of the counter is exceeded (and in theexample chosen it is exceeded by exactly 7 units). The number of timesthat N has been added into the counter to tip the counter over is thenexactly Q+l. The amount by which the capacity is exceeded is NR. We nowwrite the general Equation 2 again, and under it we write the numericalvalues for this example as follows:

(NR)Q+R(Q+ Q+R= There is provided a remainder switch PR which isconnected to the line counter 12 by a set of five leads 24. The counter,as heretofore noted, displays at this time the number 7 (or in general,NR). This value of 4 NR is transmitted over the leads 24 to be recordedin the remainder switch PR.

There is also provided a zone switch SZ connected with: the interwordcounter by a lead 25. This zone switch is first caused to store thenumber Q which is to be applied to the first NR interwords; for thisexample the zone switch is set at the value 3 which is to be applied tothe first 7 interwords. A lead 26 connects the remainder switch PR withthe zone switch SZ and acts to send into SZ an impulse on exhaustion ofthe value of N R from the remainder switch PR. In other words, as theescapement of the film carriage operates, the remainder switch PR iscaused to move one step nearer its home position for each interword.Upon arrival at its home position, which means that the first NRinterwords have been increased by Q, the impulse from PR changes thezone switch from Q to Q+l, whereby the remaining R interwords areincreased by Q+ 1. (In the example chosen, PR takes 7 steps to its homeposition, andthen changes the zone switch from 3 to 4 units for theremaining 5 interwords.)

Referring again to the block diagram, there is provided a blockindicated at 28 and designated width translator, signal translator andrepeater. This block 28 is connected to the block 10 by two sets ofleads, designated as a set of four width-selector leads 30 and a set ofthree character-selector leads 32. These leads are energized by thereading mechanism of the register. The four leads 30 serve to select thewidth of the character and to initiate correct operation of the variableescapement mechanism. The three leads 32 select the required charactersfrom all characters having the same width. For example, b and h have thesame width so that the leads 30 carry the same impulses therefor.However the leads 32 carry different impulses for these two characters.

From the width-translator 28 a cable of twelve leads 34 runs to thevariable escapement mechanism 36. This is the variable escapement forthe film carriage, which may be of the type described in our applicationSerial No. 770,320. The impulses on leads 3t and 32 are transmittedthrough a signal translator and repeater through seven leads 38 into theflasher unit 40 by which the selected character is illuminated at theproper time to throw its image on the photographic sheet as described inour copending application Serial No. 770,320.

The zone switch SZ is connected through seventeen leads 42 with theblock 36. Whenever an interword is called for by the leads 30 and 32,the flasher is not operated but a signal is sent from the signaltranslator to the zone switch SZ over a lead 43. The width of theinterword is determined by the setting of the zone switch, whereby asignal is transmitted into the variable escapernent mechanism throughone of the leads 42. In the example chosen the zone switch will signalthe variable escapement mechanism for an increment of 3 units forthefirst seven interwords and an increment of 4 units for the last fiveinterwords, whereby the actual spaces will be 7 units for the firstseven interwords and 8 units for the last five interwords.

So far the mathematical principles on which the justification is basedhave been described as if the computations were carried out in thedecimal system. The actual computations are, however, preferably carriedout in the binary system. The structure of the various units and themode of computation in the binary system will not be described indetail, since a full description appears in our application Serial No.70,472.

Register The preferred embodiment of the registering device is shown inFigs. 4 to 9. In this arrangement the combination of displaced pinsrepresenting a line of characters is set by a group of seven hammersfollowing the displacements of the typewriter platen and travelling infront of a fixed frame provided with sliding pins. This device maybedivided; for the sake of the description, into three main groups orsections designated by 44, 46 and-48 in the Figs.

8 and 9. Section 44 comprises the seven' hammers 50, adapted to pushfrom idle position into operative position a selection of fiat pins 52while a line is being type.

This section includes also means for correcting erroneous settings, thatis to say, means to erase a character, said means comprising, in group44, hooked members 54, one

for each hammer, and adapted to reset the seven pins of the vertical rowopposite the seven hammers.

Correction feelers 56 are also provided for detecting the codearrangement of the pins before they are reset in order to subtract inthe line counter a number of units corresponding to the width of theerased character as will be explained at length later.

The partial assembly 44 follows all the displacements of the typewriterplaten to which it is directly and rigidly connected by the member 58.This sub-assembly follows the platen when a line is typed or when theoperator displaces the typewriter platen for instance for a correctionor tabulation work or when he depresses the Back Spacing key. Thisassembly has, near the frame bearing the sliding pins, an elongatedopening 60 (Fig. 9) provided between two guides 62 rigidly secured tothe member 58 and mounted thereon so that its axis is exactly oppositethe axis of a vertical row of pins when the typewriter is at rest. Whenthe platen escapes one tooth and moves one step the opening advancesalso one step and reaches a position opposite the next vertical row ofpins. This opening is used to guide the hammers 50, feelers 56 anderasers 54. These various elements are slidably mounted in the opening,the width of which is preferably equal to half the pitch of thetypewriter.

Su'bassembly 44 moves on one side of the fixed assembly 46 whichcomprises mainly two perforated plates 64, spaced by spacers 66 (Fig.and secured to a frame 68. The plates 64 are provided with rectangularperforations in which are slidably mounted the flat pins 52. Each ofthese sliding pins may occupy selectively one of two positions, anoperating position at 70 and an idle position at 72 (Fig. 9). When theoperator begins to type a new line all the pins of the rows opposite thehammers are in the idle position and a combination of pins is pushedinto operating position, in the same time the corresponding character isprinted on the typewriter platen. each pin is securely maintained in oneof these two positions by a spring 74 engaging a notch 76 in one side ofthe pin (Fig. 7).

The pins are arranged in horizontal rows, each row comprising as manypins as there may be characters in the longest line. The pitch ordistance separating the axesof two consecutive pins is equal to thetypewriter pitch. In the embodiment shown fourteen horizontal rows areprovided, seven rows cooperating with assembly 44, while the seven otherrows, on which the preceding line has been stored, cooperate with theassembly 48. This last assembly comprises a scanning carriage formed ofa plate 78 provided with grooved rollers 80 travelling on the edges offixed bars 82 and bearing seven makeand-break contacts 84, actuated bythe seven feelers 86 displaced along the assembly 46 by said scanningcarriage. This latter travels step by step and is controlled by thephotographic unit; the length of each step is exactly the same as thepitch of the rows of pins.

In summary the register comprises two mobile sub-assemblies 44 and 48which may move independently on each side of a fixed assembly 46. Thefirst assembly is controlled by the typewriter, while assembly 48 iscontrolled by the photographic unit.

The different sub-assemblies will now be described in greater detail.

Assembly 44 bears seven hammers 50, each formed of a flat memberpivotally connected to a rocking lever 88 (Fig. 5) by a pin 90. Eachlever 88 is integral with a sleeve sliding freely along the shaft 92 butis compelled 6 to rotate with the same shaft by means of akey '94sliding in a keyway cut into =the' 'shaft said feather or sliding key 94being held between the two plates 62. These plates 62 are secured tomember 58 so that they compel the levers 88 to follow all thedisplacements of the typewriter platen. The hammers are actuatedindividually and selectively by electromagnets such as 96 (Fig. 5) whichare provided on one side of the frame and effective to rotate the shaftssuch as 92 when they are energized, through a convenient linkage 98 anda lever 100 keyed on the shaft 92. When they are rocked by theelectromagnets selectively energized by the contacts operated by thepermutation bars of the typewriter, these shafts 92 rock levers 88whatever may be the position of these'levers along the shafts and thecorresponding hammers are pushed towards the frame 46, against spring102. The hammers are subsequently advanced one step at the same time asthe typewriter platen.

When a correction is needed the platen is first returned to place thecharacter to be erased in the printing position of the typewriter. A keyCOK (Fig. 2) is then depressed which, as will be explained later,actuates the line counter backwards and brings all the pins opposite thehammers back to the rest position. This key subsequently energizes anelectromagnet COC which rotates a shaft 104 in counterclockwisedirection. This shaft drives a sliding sleeve 106 by means of a keyprovided in the shaft. A projecting stud 108 screwed into said sleeve106 pushes upwards a stud 110 together with the plate 112 in which it isfixed.

The plate 112 is provided with elongated holes through which passesshaft 104 and which enable said plate to slide vertically freely. Thisplate is limited to move only in its own plane by one of the guideplates 62 (Fig. 4) and the sliding sleeve 106. The plate 112 is providedwith seven feelers 56, with two tails, loosely pivoted on the pins 114(Fig. 7) mounted on the plate so that, when this plate is pushedupwards, all the feelers finding on their path a pin in the idleposition will be rocked clockwise, and the tails 56 will open theassociated correcting contacts 116 (Fig. 8). It appears that when theplate 1 112 is pushed upwards the correcting contacts corresponding tothe depressed pins on the vertical row will not be actuated. Thesecontacts represent the combination of the faulty character to be erased;and they are used as hereinafter described for actuating backwards theline counter by a number of units corresponding to the width of saidfaulty character. The feelers are maintained in their normal positionagainst an abutment 118 by a spring or other similar means.

To erase an erroneous character the first rotation of the shaft 104 isfollowed by a second rotation clockwise under the control ofanelectromagnet EF (Fig. 2.), and this rotation-drives, through a linkagenot shown, the lower shaft 120 which moves to the left a plate 122 (seeFig. 7). This plate 122 is moved in part by the same device which hasbeen described above comprising two sliding sleeves 124 and 106 (Fig. 7)provided with studs 128 acting on studs 130 mounted on the plate. Thislatter plate bears seven hooks 54 adapted to engage notches in thesliding pins so that, when the plate is displaced towards the left inFig. 7, these hooks will find in their way the depressed pins of thevertical row corresponding to the character to be erased. They willtherefore return all these members to their idle position, so that a newcombination may replace the erroneous one.

The plates 112 and 122 are returned to their rest po* sition bysprings-132 and 134 respectively (Fig. 7), and are held between theplates 62 and the sleeves 106 and 124, so that they follow all themovements of the plates.

The mobile assembly 44 actuates the odd pins while the even pins onwhich the preceding line has been registered cooperate 'with theassembly 48 as described above, and at the end of each line when thetypewriter platen and 'the scanning carriage have returned to theirinitial positi'ons,=-r=1 rockingmotion takespla'ce'so as to place theassembly 44 opposite the even pins, while assembly 48 acting on a cord142 through deflecting rollers. A series of seven contacts 84 cooperatewith the decoder and are mounted on the scanning carriage. by feelers 86each being provided with a tail portion which is rocked when it meets onits path a protruding pin, that is to say, a pin in operative position.The feeler is shown in Fig. 9 is opposite a pin in operative positionand its associated contacts are therefore operated. The feeler has atension spring 144 but this spring is not strong enough to reset thepin. When the feeler arrives opposite a pin in the idle position, itremains in its rest position shown in dotted lines under the action ofthe spring 144 pressing it against an abutment 146. The seven feelersmay rock freely on a vertical rod 148 but are displaced with this rodwhen it slides axially in the bearing 150 of the scanning carriage, sothat the feelers may be brought opposite one or the other row of pins.This displacement of the rod 14-8 is caused by a flat bar 152 (Fig. 7)engaging a notch formed in this rod, which is displaced alternativelyupwards and downwards after the completion of a line. A resetting hammer154 pushing all the pins at the same time into their initial position isadapted to act on the vertical row of pins which has been previouslyscanned by the feelers 86. This hammer is preferably made in the form ofa fiat piece guided in the comb 156 and displaced rapidly to the left assoon as the scanning carriage has moved one step. Shafts 158 (Figs. 7and 9) control this resetting hammer, the latter being pivoted andsupported by two levers 160 integral with sliding sleeves provided withkeys so as to be rocked when the shafts rotate under the action of anelectromagnet. Levers 160 are guided by the flat members 162 (Fig. 9)fixed on the scanning carriage, and compel the hammer to follow themovement of this carriage.

In order to be able to change easily and simultaneously the position ofassemblies 44 and 48 at the end of each line, these assemblies, exceptthe scanning carriage, are supported by the shafts on which they slide,said shafts being journaled on arms 164 and 166 which form a part of arocking frame. The rocking movement must not occur before the typewriterplaten and the scanning carriage are returned to their initial positionbeyond the last vertical row of pins, so that the opening 60 of theassembly 44 and the feelers of the assembly 48 can move freely up anddown without meeting the pins in their path. The rocking movement isinitiated mechanically and automatically by the platen of the typewriterand at the correct instant by the device shown in Figs. 6a and 6b. Alever 168 is pivoted on a" fixed pin 170 and pressed by a spring 172against a cam surface 174 fixed on the typewriter platen. A second lever176 is pivoted at 178 on the lever 168 and provided with a roller 180.It is constantly urged into dotted position 182 by a centering devicecomprising a spring 184 cooperating with a stud 186 fixed on the lever176 and the tail of the lever 168. A fiat member 188, shaped like awedge, is fixedly mounted on an arm 166 so that the tip of the wedgeshaped part of the member 188 will lie in either of two positionsaccording to the position of the. arm 166.

Assuming that the different parts are positioned as shown in full linesin Fig. 6a at the end of a line, during the return travel of the platen,the cam surface 174 will meet the end of the lever 168 on its path andthis lever will rock clockwise against the spring 172 until it reachesthe dotted position 190. The second lever 176 is then liberated from theaction of the inclined edge of the wedge shaped member 188 and returnsto its initial position 182 with its associated roller which goes intoposition 192.

They are actuated When the platen, continuing its travel, carries thecam surface beyond the point 194, the lever 168 will be suddenly rockedcounterclockwise by the spring 172 and the roller passes from theposition 192 to dotted position 196 under the action of the cam surfaceof one side of the member 188. This member will be rotated clockwisearound the shaft 198 and with it the arm 166 which will pass from theposition shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines at 200. When,during its return displacement, the member 174 finds the lever 168 onits path, this member rocks over and clear of the lever, since themember 174 is pivoted on a pin 202, and is returned to its initialposition by a spring, not shown.

Descriptions of this same registering apparatus are also to be found inour said applications Serial Nos. 770,320 and 187,476.

Line counter It has previously been explained how the key bars of thetypewriter operate a set of permutation bars and close their associatedcontacts according to the code combinations allocated to the variouscharacters. We shall only consider here the first four contacts whichcharacterize the character widths. The corresponding four contacts areconnected to the four entries of the binary counter.

' It is clear that these four entries must be adapted to opcratesimultaneously since the permutation bar contacts are simultaneouslyoperated. The result of the addition of these various numbers in thecounter is recorded in binary or accumulating relays, or combinations ofrelays. These relays are such that they have two stable positions, andthey move from one position to the other when current is applied andinterrupted, and then remain in this latter position. For this reasonthey may be called flip-flops.

Figure 3 shows a counter haxing five flip-flop circuits each of whichuses ordinary telephone relays such as A2 and B2. Assuming that a key kis closed, when the battery is connected through contacts S of aparticular stage, current flows through relay B2 and the left-handwinding of relay A2 in series, but the single winding of A2 is too weakto operate A2. (The term operate is used herein to refer to anattraction of the armature.) Hence relay B2 alone operates. When theswitch S is opened the second winding of A2, which during the impulsewas connected to battery on both sides is now excited, and both windingsof A2 and the winding of relay B2 remain energized. Both armatures areattracted. When the switch closes a second time relay B2 has bothterminals connected to battery and releases, but A2 re mains operated byits right-hand winding. This is a wellknown type of double-winding relayin which one winding is unable to operate the relay but is able tomaintain it in the operated condition.) When the switch is opened A2releases and the cycle can repeat. Contacts 204 controlled by relay A2are adapted for connection in an external circuit. These contacts closefor every two actuations of switch S.

If we consider now the binary relay of a given stage it is clear that itmust operate when one impulse is applied to it, and that it must carryover this same impulse to the higher order if it is already in itsoperated or one position, and that it must not transmit a carry impulseif it is in its zero position. However, if a stage receives both acarry-over impulse from the lower order and a direct impulse it must notoperate, but must carry over a single impulse to the next higher order,whatever its own initial position may be.

Figure 3 also shows an example of an embodiment of a binary counterwhich fulfils these requirements. It comprises as many flip-fiop relaycircuits as there are stages, or five in the example shown. Eachflip-flop circuit is provided with contacts such as 204 which are closedwhen the flip-flop circuit is in position 1 and open when it is inposition 0. Such simple make contacts on .the flip-flop circuits wouldbe sufficient if the 9 entries on the various-stages.-werenotsimultaneous, but occurred in succession.

When a flip-flop circuit receives a carry-over potent al from thepreceding stage and an operating potential from its own stage it is notconvenient to operate this flipfiop circuit twice. A more rapid andconvenient arrangement is such that a flip-flop circuit of a stage inwhich a double entry occurs i prevented from operating at all, but itsends the next higher stage a carry-over potential. The circuit shown inFig. 3 fulfills these conditions. All stages are identical except thefirst-one which, of course, cannot receiver any carry-over potential.Each stage is provided with a carry-over relay R2, R3, etc. These relayshave two windings in opposition relation and operate whenever onewinding is energized and remain at rest when both windings areenergized. The input to the first stage is through a lead 206, said leadbeing connected directly to the'fiip-flop circuit and also to contacts208. Av carry-overlead 210 runs from contacts 208 of this stage to onewinding of R2. The input lead 212 of the second stage runs. to thesecond winding of R2 and also through a rectifier 214 and lead 216 tocontacts 204 (but not to the flip-flop circuit A2, B2 itself). A secondrectifier 218 is connected between leads 210 and 216.

The relay R2 has make contacts S connected by a lead 220 with thefiip-fiop A2, B2, and break contacts 222 connected with the input lead212 of its own stage and with a carry-over lead 224 running fromcontacts204 of flipfiop A2, B2 to one winding of R3.

The third and subsequent stages are simply a repetition of the secondstage.

It will be observed that the counter of Fig. 4 has the advantage that acarry-over impulse is transmitted through all necessary stages withoutrequiring successive operations of the relays. For example, if the firstthree flip-flop stages are all in their l-positions (corresponding to111 in the binary system or 7 in the decimal system), energization ofthe lead 206 sends a carry-over impulse directly through contacts 208 ofthe first stage, rectifier 218, lead 216, contacts 204 and lead 224 ofthe second stage, and through exactly similar connections of the thirdstage, directly to the fourth stage. Also the flipflop relays of thefirst three stages convert to the condition in unison. The relay Eis'not operated to allow the flip-flops to operate until after thecarry-over relays have assumed their correct positions. The ultimateresult in this example is to record 1000, the sum of 111 and 1 in thebinary system.

As a practical measure which will be explained later, relay E isintroduced with contacts in the ground leads of the flip-flop relays. Atthis time it will be assumed that relay E is energized and its contactsare hence closed.

Let us consider the second stage, for instance. When a single entry ismade, either from stage A1, B1 through the closed contacts 208, or by acontrol potential applied to lead 212, relay R2 operates since one ofits windings only is energized. By its'make contact Sit operatesflipflop circuit A2, B2. If flip-flop circuit A2, B2 is on position 1this operating potential is also transferred to relay R3 of thefollowing stage and so on.

If, on the contrary, there are two simultaneous entries, one carry-overfrom the first stage through lead 206 and the contacts 208 of flip-flopcircuit A1, B1 (in its closed or 1 position) and lead 212 of the secondstage, relay R2 does not operate since both its windings are energizedand the operating potential is transferred by the break contact of relayR2 at rest to relay R3 of the following stage.

Line storage The operation of the machine during storage'of a line willbe described in relation to the detailed diagram shown in Figs. 2 and 3,and is the same as that which is 'morefully "described in our saidapplication Serial No.

. 70,472. The, typewriter .isshown .in the-lower left-hand 'cdl, cd3,cd4,which characterize the character width and contacts cd5, cd6 and cd7which diiferentiate characters of the same width. 'Since the.permutation bar contacts may be closed for slightlydifferent lengthsoftimeintermediate relays RI-l, RI--2, RI-3and'RL4 (Fig. 3) areintroduced between the permutation 'bar contacts and the counter. Theserelays are operated through'leads' 14 (see also Fig. 1) by thepermutation bar contacts cd and lock themselves by holding circuitsestablished through their make-before-break contacts and a now-closedbreak contact of a special delay relay DR. In this way it is possible tomaintain these relays operated for'anappropriate length of time whateverthe duration of closure of the permutation 'bar contacts. Theintermediate relays,when operated,'apply a battery to the counter inputleads'through a switching relay' CS which during the storage of the lineis at rest. Fourcounter'stages are sufiicient to take care of thecharacter widths but it is desirable to provide an additionalcounterstage in order to take care of more than 15 interwords, since aspreviously noted, the number N of interwords is fed into the linecounter through the leads'23. Whenever any key of the typewriterkeyboard CL is depressed a contact u, called the universal contact, isoperated. This contact operates -a relay RU which also locks itself onthebreak contact of relay DR. Also, the relay E is operated by makecontacts of relays RI-Ito RI-4 and RU in parallel. The object of thisrelay E, as previously explained, is to delay the application of thebattery to the binary relays and thus-give to the carry over relays R2to'R6 the time to operate and prepare thecircuit.

When the five-stage binary counter reaches its capacity an impulse issent to thestepping switch'ACS (accumulating switch) which advances onestep. Switch ACS is a stepping switch (Fig, 2)which advances one stepfor each 32 units countedon the binary counter. It may be-viewed as-ascale-of-32 counter which ha a capacity sufiicient to store the totalnumber ofunits in theline.

The impulse is transmitted as follows: When the binary counter exceedsits capacity a-circuit is completed through the carry-over relay R6 inthesame way that carry-overs are eifected at any stage of the counteritself, as previously explained. When R6 closes its contacts ittransmits'a pulse over a lead 226, a contact of switch COS to be laterdescribed and a lead 228 to ACS. Energization of the winding followed bydeenergization after R6 opens causes a. one-step advance of the contactsof ACS.

For the stepping switches ACS and SUS (Fig. 2), the actual step contactsare'shown. For the switch COS, however, a simplified drawing isused, andthe contacts are designated by a standard convention. The various levelsof the switches are designated by capital letters Without subscripts, A,B, C, etc. Thus the correction switch COS (Fig. 2) has seven levelsdesignated A to G. The contacts of the various levels are designated.

Each number represents a closed contact. The mark means that allcontacts between the two numbers are closed, while the dot means thatall contacts between the two numbers are open. Thus level A is open'onits home position O but is closed on all steps from 1 through 4. Level Bis closed onstep'B only, C on position '0 only, D

2 and 3.

Correction procedure The procedure of making a correction will next beexplained. If the operator sees that'he has made an error, it isnecessary to erase the wrong character from the register and also tosubtract its width value from the line counter, before introducing thecorrect character. The operator merely resets the typewriter platen backto the wrong character and then presses the correction key COK. Thisenergizes the stepping switch designated COS (correction switch). Thesubtraction is effected by inverting the binary counter (i. e. changingall 1's to 0, and all 's to 1), adding the number to be subtracted, andthen reinverting the binary counter. This is the mathematical process ofsubtracting by adding complements; for examplc to subtract 11 from 1000in the binary system, invert 1000 to obtain 0111, add 11 to obtain 1010,and reinvert to obtain the results 0101. This latter procedure iscarried out by COS, which, when COK falls back, is connected by itslevel A to an impulse generator G. Switch COS moves therefore 4 stepsuntil it reaches its fifth position which is also its starting positionand in which its connection with the impulse source is interrupted.During its rotation this switch controls the following operations: firstit disconnects the winding of ACS from the make contact of R6 by itslevel C0 (note that the C level provides a closed contact only onposition 0). On step 2 by its level F switch COS sends an impulse overlead 230 to relay INV (inversion relay). The inversion relay .closes itscontacts and sends an impulse over each of leads 232 to all of therelays A1 to A5 and B1 to B5 of the binary counter. From the descriptionof the counter previously given, it will be seen that this will inverteach binary stage, that is, it will change a 0 position, whereever itexists to a 1 position, and will change a 1, whereever it exists, to a0.

On step 3 level B of COS connects the SUS stepping switch (subtractionswitch) to the make contact of relay R6 by leads 226 and 234. In otherwords it has disconnected ACS from this carry-over relay R6 and hasconnected SUS in its place for a reason to be explained below. On bothsteps 2 and 3 COS operates by its level G and wire 236 the sensingmagnet COC which detects the position of the first four pins of theregister to determine the width of the faulty character as previouslyexplained. In position 3, by its level E, COS sends an impulse throughlead 238 to the contacts of the COC magnet which are closed by theregister pins corresponding to the erroneous character. The contacts ofthe COC magnet are in parallel with contacts cdl to cd4 of the keyboard.Hence leads 14 carry to the intermediate relays RI-l to RI-4 and RU thesame values that were transmitted when the erroneous character was setup. The impulse to relay RU is actually provided by means of anauxiliary make contact on COC and wire 240.

If a carry-over occurs at thi stage of the correction process it must besubtracted from the accumulating switch ACS since, if a carry-overoccurs in the subtraction of an erroneous width, it is necessarilybecause a carry-over also occurred when the erroneous character wastyped. To come back to the correct position it would be necessary tostep ACS one step back. Since the usual stepping switches are notadapted to move backwards the auxiliary stepping switch SUS has beenpro; vided. This stepping switch receives any carry-over which may occurduring the subtraction process and moves one step backwards the end ofline terminal of ACS. In Fig. 2 it may be seen that ACS gives a signalon a brush b2 that the capacity ofthe counter has been reached, orexceeded,- when its brush B1 "of level D reaches terminal .1. Thi signalis used in the justification; its connection with the justifier is notshown in the drawings, but may beseen in our said ,copending applicationSerial No. 70,472. But if SUS has moved one step it may be seen that ACSwill have to move one more step .than normally. In position '4 COS byits level F sends another irnpuse to relay INV which reverses again theposition of all binary relays. The width of the erroneous character hasthus been subtracted from the counter. In position 4, by its level D,COC energizes electromagnet EF which, is previously explained, pushesback into their set position the register pins of the faulty character.At the end of the fourth impulse switch COS falls into its fifthposition (which is also its zero position) where it is disconnected fromthe impulse source. The correction cycle is now completed and theoperator can strike the correct character.

In connection with correction cycle described above, it will of coursebe recognized that in the event that a word space is erased theinterword counter CI must be stepped back one step, or else anequivalent arrangement such as that described above for the switch ACSmust be provided. This may be done conveniently through a circuit (notshown) connected with the leads 14 and arranged to provide a signal onlywhen the leads corresponding to the code combination for a word spaceare energized by operation of the sensing magnet COC.

A detailed description of the justification procedure, which isinitiated after the line has been correctly typed, is given in our saidapplication Serial No. 70,472, and involves the apparatus hereindescribed in combination with other switches, controls, and circuits notshown in the accompanying drawings or directly related to the presentinvention. It will suffice for present purpose to state that uponcompletion of the computation hereinbefore described, a circuitrepresented in Fig. 2 by a switch 242 connects battery to the hominglevels A of the switches ACS and SUS. These are returned to their home,positions in a well-known self-cycling manner.

The home position of the switch ACS is made variable according to thedesired length of the justified line, by means of the justification bar1K2. In conjunction with the setting of this bar, the justificationrelay IR (Fig. 3) is operated by a circuit represented by a switch 244.This relay has five sets of contacts 246 in series with five manuallyoperated keys JKl. The contacts 246 are connected to the inputs of theflip-circuits of the line counter by leads 232. If none of the keys JKlare closed the counter remains empty. If any of the keys are closed,corresponding values are initially set into the line counter when theswitch 244 is closed. This cuts down the available capacity of thecounter by the values initially set in. For example, if the totalcapacity of the line counting apparatus (the counter 12 and ACS) is,say, 512, and it is desired to write a line of 504 units, 8 units willbe set into the binary counter at the beginning of each line, if thefourth key JK1 is kept closed. If the line is to be reduced more than 31units below capacity, the starting position of ACS is changed by slidingthe bar JK2 (Fig. 2) which closes all but one contact d of thehome-return level A of ACS.

A detailed description of the parts of the apparatus associated with thetranscription of the characters in the register after completion of thejustification computation is to be found in said applicationSerial No.70,472 and is not here given.

It will be appreciated that, while the invention has been describedabove with reference to specific and preferred embodiments of theregister, the counter and other associated circuits and parts, manyvariations in design, circuitry, arrangement, procedure and operationmay be incorporated in accordance with conditions and requirements ofuse, all of which would bewithin the purview of one skilled in this artafter a reading of this specification. It is understood andbelieved,therefore, that such variations would also fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a register having anumber of memory elements for each selected character in a line of type,said elements including provision to represent the width of thecharacter in numerical form, a typewriter having a keyboard and aspacing carriage movable relative to said elements, a selector movablewith the carriage and selectively engageable with said elements underthe control of the keyboard, a counter operated by the keyboard to addthe widths of the selected characters in a line, correction meansmovable with the selector and operable upon the same elements in anyposition thereof, including sensing means to detect the width of afaulty character and erasing means to reset the elements correspondingthereto, and means controlled by the sensing means to subtract the widthof said faulty character from the counter.

2. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a typewriter having akeyboard and a spacing carriage, a number of code elements actuated, bythe keyboard to represent consecutively the selected characters in aline of type and their widths in numerical form, a register havingmemory elements corresponding to the code elements for each of saidcharacters, a selector movable with the carriage and selectivelyengageable with the memory elements under the control of the codeelements, a counter operated by the code elements to add the widths ofsaid characters, correction means movable with the selector and operableupon the same elements in any position thereof, including sensing meansto detect the width of a faulty character and erasing means to reset thememory elements corresponding thereto, and means controlled by thesensing means to subtract the Width of said faulty character from thecounter.

3. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a typewriter having akeyboard and a spacing carriage, a number of code elements actuated bythe keyboard to represent consecutively the selected characters in aline of type, said code elements being divided into a width selectorgroup for representing a character width in numerical form and acharacter selector group for distinguishing between characters of likewidth, a register having memory elements corresponding to the codeelements for each of said characters, a selector, movable with thecarriage and selectively engageable with the memory elements under thecontrol of the code elements, a counter operated by the code elements toadd the widths of said characters, correction means movable with theselector and operable upon the same elements in any position thereof,including sensing means to detect the width of a faulty character anderasing means to reset the memory elements corresponding thereto, andmeans controlled by the sensing means to subtract the width of saidfaulty character from the counter.

4. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a register having anumber of memory elements arranged in groups, one group for eachcharacter in a line, each group including a sub-group representing thecharacter Width in numerical form, a typewriting machine having a platencarriage movable relative to the memory elements, a selector movablewith the carriage and selectively engageable with the memory elements,computing means to add the widths of characters in a line, sensing meansoperable with said sub-group of memory elements corresponding to a typedfaulty character to detect the Width of said character, erasing meansoperable to reset the memory elements corresponding to said characters,and means controlled by the sensing means for operating the computingmeans to subtract the width of said character.

5. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a typewriter having akeyboard and a spacing carriage, a register having a number of memoryelements for each selected character in a line of type, said elementsincluding provision to represent the width of the character in numericalform, an assembly engaged with the carriage and adapted to be movedthereby relative to said elements, said assembly having a selectorengageable with selected combinations of the elements under the controlof the keyboard, sensing means operable in conjunction with saidelements to detect the width of a faulty character, and erasing means toreset the elements corresponding thereto, a counter operated by thekeyboard to add the widths of the selected characters in a line, andmeans controlled by the sensing means to subtract the width of saidfaulty character from the counter.

6. In type composing apparatus, the combination of a typewriter having akeyboard and a spacing carriage, a register having a number of memoryelements for each selected character in a line of type, said elementsincluding provision to represent the width of the character in binaryform, an assembly engaged with the carriage and adapted to be movedthereby relative to said elements, said assembly having a selectorengageable with selected combinations of the elements under the controlof the keyboard, sensing means operable in conjunction with saidelements to detect the width of a faulty character, and erasing means toreset the elements corresponding thereto, a binary counter operated bythe keyboard to add the widths of the selected characters in a line,means to invert the counter preparatory to making a correction of saidfaulty character, means controlled by the sensing means to add the widthof said faulty character to the in verted counter, and means to reinvertthe counter.

7. In type composition, the method of storing in a register informationcorresponding to selected variablewidth characters for subsequenttranscription in a line, which consists in the steps of advancing acarriage provided with selector, sensing and erasing means intooperative relation with consecutive positions of the register, actuatingthe selector means to store in each position information correspondingto a selected character including its Width, accumulating the widths asthey are successively stored by the selector means, returning thecarriage to operative relation with any single position representing anerroneously stored character, actuating the sensing means to sense thewidth of said erroneously stored character, subtracting the sensed widthfrom the previously accumulated total of selected character widths, andactuating the erasing means to erase the information corresponding tosaid erroneously stored character.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS626,098 Risley et al May 30, 1899 2,392,224 Bryce Jan. 1, 1946 2,398,457Wallach Apr. 16, 1946

